Toy gun



P. WHITLOCK Jan. 12, 1954 TOY GUN Filed Sept. 22, 1948 Patented Jan. 12,1954 UNITED STATEfi PATENT OFFICE 32,665,671 roY GUN P ul with e en .OApplication September 22, 1943, Serial No. 59,459

2 Claims. (01. 124 17) V This invention relates to toy guns of the kindconstructed and arranged to propel a ball through a limited flight in amanner and by means simulating the discharge of a projectile from anactual gun.

The invention is particularly characterized by a novel hammer mechanismwhich includes a floating mount for the hammer, and which furtherincludes a resilient power source for the hammer serving the dualpurpose of maintaining the hammer in assembled operative relation to theother parts of the gun.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well asthe means and mode of operation of a toy gun whereby such guns may notonly be economically manufactured, but will be more efficient andsatisfactory in use, having relatively few parts and being highlyunlikely to get out of repair.

Another object of the invention is to make a toy gun using a minimumnumber of parts and which may in large extent be formed from a singlepiece of wood or other suitable material.

A further object in this connection is to enable a quick and easyassembly of the gun.

A further object of the invention is to provide an equalizing means forthe resilient power source.

A further object is to provide a toy gun which is attractive inappearance yet easy and reliable in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy gun capable ofwithstanding the hard wear and inexperienced manipulation to which sucharticles of manufacture are usually subjected.

A further object of the invention'is to provide a toy gun possessing theadvantageous structural features, the inherent meritoriouscharacteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully appear in the specification, the invention intended to beprotected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction,the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, ashereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ortheir equivalents.

In carrying out the above objects there has been evolved a toy guncomprising a unitary stock orbody presenting an elevated ball rest, afloating hammer member pivotally movable upon the body throughretracting and impact strokes relatively to the ball rest, and aresilient band anchored at the front of the body and surrounding theball rest and the hammer member. .In one form of the invention theanchor for said band is automatically adjustable to compensate forinequalities of tension upon the band.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein is found the preferredbut obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of theinvention,

.Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy cannon embodying the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the automatic adjustment motion ofthe resilient band anchor;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a toy pistol embodying the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view of the device of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a toy pistol like that of Fig. ,3,showing a modified means for anchoring the rubber band; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front view of the device of Fig. 5.

Like parts are indicated .by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

Referring to Fig. 1, a toy cannon constructed in accordancewiththe'present invention may comprise a .body in the form of a generallyrectangular block I0. .Formed integrally with the block l ll or settherein are laterally projecting studs ll extending respectively fromthe lower side edges of the .block. Relatively large broad wheels 12 arerotatably mounted on the studs I l which serve as axles. The wheels l2are held in place upon the studs or axles H by suitable retaining means,for example a rubber sleeve [3 as shown.

Projecting forwardly from the block 10 adjacent the upper end thereof isa simulated gun barrel M which may, like the studs ll, be integral withthe block or set into the block l0. Projecting from the rear of theblock [0 adjacent the lower end thereof and inclined relatively to theblock is a shaft or carriage tongue l5. The tongue I5 is roundthroughout th greater portion of its length but is undercut or flattenedat its outer end where an opening I6 is formed for attachment of thecannon to a towing device.

The upper end of the block 10 is formed with a concave surface I!defining a channel over which a projectile ball may be'discharged andwhich may be used as a ball rest. For projecting a ball there isprovided a hammer member I8. The hammer member I?! is rectangular inshape, having a Width corresponding to the width of the block [0. Thelower end of the hammer member floats or rests upon the tongu l5 and thelength thereof is such as to cause a substantial portion thereof toproject above the horizontal plane of the surface I1. In the projectingupper end of the member I8 is an opening I9 which may be used to receiveor carry a projectil ball 2i, the aXis of opening I9 being parallel tothe concave surface I I and to the gun barrel I4.

Formed integrally with the hammer member I8, or set therein, arelaterally projecting trunnions 22 located in the respective side edgesof the hammer member adjacent the lower end thereof. In overlyingcontacting relationship to the trunnions 22 is a rubber or rubber-likeband 23 providing the power for operating the hammer member I8.

At the front of block I3 is a dowel pin 24 rotatably set in the block Iand formed with transverse slots 25 respectively receiving the ends ofthe band 23. The slots 25 are of such width relative to the thickness ofthe band 23 that the band must be stretched at a point adjacent its endsfor insertion into the slots. When the ends have been so inserted, thoseportions of the band within the slots 25 are compressed and therelatively thicker portions of the band outside the slots effectivelyresist sliding motion of the band relatively to the dowel pin. The endsof the band 23 accordingly are anchored to the front of the block III.The anchor or dowel pin 24 is made rotatable in order that anyinequality of tension upon the band 23 may automatically be compensated.Thus, if one end or one-half of the length of the band is stretchedexcessively While the other end or half is relatively loose, the dowelpin 24 will rotate slightly in its bearing in block I3 to distribute thetension upon the band more equally. This motion is indicateddiagrammatically in Fig. 2. The dowel pin 24 is located in a horizontalplane lower than the trunnions 22 so that the yielding force exerted bythe band is resolved into forward and downward components.

In the installation of the band 23 an initial tension is impartedthereto sufiicient to urge the hammer member I8 into a flush contactwith the rear of block I3 and to press the lower end of the hammermember into a seated position at the point of intersection of the tongueI with the block Ill.

The hammer member is retractable from such position by hand against theyielding resistance of band 23 for release into striking engagement withthe block It). The point of intersection of the block I3 and tongue I5provides a pivot point for such rocking motion of the hammer member. Thereturn motion of the hammer member into striking engagement with theblock I0 under the urging of band 23 is a swift action and the impact ofthe engagement of the hammer with the block it is sufficient to dislodgethe ball H from the opening I9 and to project it forwardly along theline of the gun barrel I4. If, instead of mounting the ball 2! in theopening I9, the same or another ball is placed upon the concave surface4! the hammer member IE will propel the ball forwardly. In thisinstance, the ball tends to follow the hammer in its return stroke andslides relatively to the hammer and to the surface II. In an operationinvolving projection from the opening IS a rubber or other type ofcompressible ball is used, while if using the rest IT a relatively largecelluloid ball may be used.

The invention is shown in Fig. 3 as applied to a toy pistol. In thisinstance the body 26 of 4 the device is formed with a handle gripportion 21 and an upstanding block portion 28, the portions 21 and 28being interconnected by a stock 23 in which appears an opening 3|defining a simulated trigger guard.

At the top of the stock 29 is a land 32 merging at its opposite endswith the upper end of handle grip portion 21 and the base of blockportion 28 at the rear thereof. Integral with or set in the front of theblock 28 is a simulated gun barrel 33. The top of the block 28 defines aball rest 34. Fastened to the opposite sides of the block 28 andextending upwardly alongside the ball rest 34 are spring arms 35sheathed in a rubber or fabric material. The arms 35 are constructed andarranged to grip therebetween a hollow light-weight ball 33 which may beplaced on the rest 34.

A hammer member 31 is operable to strike the ball 36 and propel itforwardly out of the grip of the spring arms 35 and along the line ofthe gun barrel 33. The hammer member 3? is rectangular in shape with awidth corresponding to the width of the block 28, and its lower endfloats or rests upon the land 32, being normally situated thereon at thebase of block 28. Projecting from the side edges of the hammer member 37adjacent the lower end thereof are trunnions 38 underlying a rubber band39 which surrounds the hammer member and the block 28 in the same manneras the band 23 described in connection with the cannon of Fig. 1Similarly, the ends of the band 39 are anchored in a 1'0- tatable dowelpin ll in a manner and for the purpose described in connection with theembodiment of Fig. 1. The hammer member 3'. is retractable by hand aboutits pivot at the base of block 28 to or beyond the position indicated indotted lines in Fig. 3. Upon release of the hammer from retractedposition it is moved swiftly through its return stroke by the band 39into striking engagement with the rear of block 28. With the ball 33properly positioned between the arms 35, the hammer will simultaneouslystrike the ball and drive it outwardly into flight. It is to be noted,however, that at the moment of impact with the block 28 the pivot pointof the hammer tends to shift from the base of the block to the rear edgeof the rest 34 on the top thereof. The hammer thus is capable of aslight over-travel at the end of its impact stroke which enables it tostrike the ball even though the ball was not initially placed in contactwith the hammer. The lower end of the hammer member 31 is rounded foreasy rocking and sliding motion relative to the land 32.

The resilient band indicated at 23 in Fig. 1, and at 39 in Fig. 3, maybe anchored by means other than the rotatable dowel pin described. Thus,in Figs. 5 and 6, for example, there is shown a toy piston includingstock 43 formed with transverse slots 44 corresponding to the slots inthe dowel pins above described. The ends of the band, in this instancedenoted at 45, are stretched and inserted into the slots 44 in the samemanner as the band is anchored to the dowel pm.

All of the parts of the gun, except the rubber power band, may be madeeasily and inexpensively of a light weight wood. The elements toy pistolconstitute an exception to the above but it will be recognized thatthese could well be omitted, if desired, and the rest 34 be made concavetemporarily to retain the ball. Correspondingly, however, it also iscontemplated that spring arms like the arms 35 could be used inconnection with the cannon of Fig. 1.

Concerning the rubber bands 23 or 39, these may be made from and takethe form of a variety of materials. In the illustrated guns, sections ofsurgical tubing are used, this material having been selected by reasonof its elasticity, strength and durability.

If desired, a pair of semi-flexible guides 55 may be inserted in the topof the surface l1 extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom thendownwardly, the ends thereof being seated within the tongue l5. Suchguides (shown in Fig. 1) have a dual purpose in that they provide a ballrest and also prevent accidental insertion of an operators fingersintermediate the block [0 and hammer Hi. When such guides are used, thecannon form of toy shown in Fig. 1 may be used with a relatively hardCelluloid ball which is centrally located upon the surface I? andretained in position by the portions of the guides adjacent the surface11.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A toy gun, including a body presenting an upstanding block portionand a substantially right angle extension projecting rearwardlytherefrom, a projectile rest on the top of said block portion, a bearingsurface interconnecting said body portions merging at its opposite endswith the top of said extension and the base of said block portion, asimulated gun barrel projecting from the front of said block portionbelow said projectile rest, resilient arms supported by said blockportion and extending alongside said projectile rest to yieldingly holda projectile there between, a hammer member loosely resting on saidinterconnecting bearing surface and extending above the plane of saidprojectile rest, and resilient means urging said hammer member againstthe rear of said block portion, said hammer member being retractablerearwardly about the pivot point represented by the intersection of saidbearing surface and the base of said block portion for release intostriking engagement with the rear of said block portion, the impact ofsaid engagement permitting a slight overtravel of said hammer memberpivotally about the upper end of said block portion.

2. A toy gun, including a body having an upwardly extending portion anda "earwardly extending portion thereon, a projectile rest upon the topof the upstanding portion, a hammer member loosely supported upon therearwardiy extending portion of the body adjacent the upstanding portionthereof for oscillatory movement relative to the upstanding portion, anextensible and contractible band resiliently urging the harnmer memberinto upright position, and anchor means for said band, including a dowelpin hav ing a series of slots therein, the ends of the resili ent bandbeing engageable in clamped relation in said slots, said dowel pin beingrotatable so that the tension imparted to said resilient hand during theretracting stroke of the hammer member may be equally distributedthrough the resilient band.

PAUL WHITLOCK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 83,211 Ripley Oct. 20,. 1868 224,043 Robinson Feb. 3,. 1880300,415 Allen June 17, 1884 363,755 Myers May 24,. 1887 939,022 HeneryNov. 2, 1909 1,049,592 Nelson Jan. 7, 1913 1,146,262 Judd July 13, 19151,250,024 Rudisell Dec. 11, 1917 1,362,171 Minnich Dec. 14, 19201,965,425 McDonald July 3,. 1934 2,287,266 Ostrander June 23, 19422,540,303 Sylvester Feb. 6, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date570,117 Great Britain June 22, 1945

